AN  ILLUSTRIOUS  NAVY  CAREER

Charles Laurence Crommelin was born on March 16, 1909, in Wetumpka, Alabama.  He was one of five brothers, all of whom graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the Navy during World War II, becoming one of the most decorated families in naval history.  Charles graduated from the Naval Academy in 1931 and following flight training rose to fame flying F6F Hellcat fighter planes in the Pacific, earning the rank of Commander.

Early in the war, he survived a crash landing test flying an aircraft.  In August 1943, he participated in air attacks of Japanese held Marcus Island.  During the air battle over Mille Atoll near the Marshall Islands in November 1943, his plane was hit by antiaircraft fire resulting with a 20mm round exploding inside his cockpit.  Although blinded in one eye and suffering multiple wounds, Crommelin still managed to fly his Hellcat 120 miles to the USS YORKTOWN where he landed safely.  Medical personnel discovered more than 200 particles of glass and metal in his face and body.  He was told that he might lose his eyesight and that he would never fly again.  He rejected the prognosis and focused on a positive comeback.  It has been widely rumored that during his recovery he left his hospital bed for a few hours to join his men at a party and right after the party he returned to his hospital bed.

On February 17, 1945, CDR Crommelin, as Strike Leader, led a coordinated attack on a vital aircraft engine plant in the Tokyo area.  For his leadership and gallant devotion on this occasion he was awarded the Navy Cross.  On March 28, 1945, while on temporary duty on USS HORNET, CDR Crommelin’s plane went missing over the sea near Okinawa and he was declared killed in action.

CRD Charles Laurence Crommelin has been memorialized at a cenotaph located in Gold Star Park in Wetumpka, Alabama, which carries the following inscription:

“CDR CHARLES CROMMELIN - REMEMBRANCE OF HIM HAS BEEN A CONTINUED INSPIRATION TO THOSE PRIVILEGED TO SERVE WITH HIM ON THE YORKTOWN. THEY RECOGNIZED HIS SUPERB TECHNICAL SKILL AS A PILOT.  HIS CAPACITY FOR LEADERSHIPWHICH WON THE LOYALTY OF ALL IN HIS COMMAND.  AND HIS PERSONAL CHARM WHICH CEMENTED THE TIES WHICH BOUND HIM TO HIS MEN.  BUT ABOVE ALL THEY PAY TRIBUTE TO THE QUALITIES OF HIS SPIRIT.  HIS DEVOTION TO DUTY WASAN EXAMPLE TO MEN OF EVERY RANK.  HIS COURAGE WAS A CHALLENGE THAT STIMULATED ALL TO EMULATION.  THESE WERE THE QUALITIES THAT PROMPTED HIM ALTHOUGH ENTITLED BY PREVIOUS SERVICE AND SEVERE WOUNDS TO A ROLE OF COMPARATIVE SAFETY.  TO GALLANTLY INSIST ON RETURNING TO A POST OF DANGER AND EVENTUALLY GIVE HIS LIFE FOR THE CAUSE IN WHICH HE BELIEVED.  HIS FRIENDS OF THE YORKTOWN BELIEVE THAT THESE QUALITIES HAVE ENDURING VALUE.  THEY PARTICULARLY RECOGNIZE THEIR IMPORTANCE IN THIS TIME OF WORLD CRISIS.  THEY BELIEVE THAT IN PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF CHARLES CROMELIN THEY ARE STRENGTHENING THOSE ESSENTIAL HUMAN VALUES WHICH ALONE WILL PRESERVE OUR FREEDOM.  COMMANDER CHARLES CROMMELIN WENT DOWN AT SEA WHILE ATTACKING OKINAWA. - THE ABOVE WAS PRESENTED TO THE CROMMELIN FAMILY BY OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE U.S.S. YORKTOWN CV-10.”

NAVY  CROSS  CITATION

“The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Charles Laurence Crommelin, Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Fighter Plane and Commander of AIR GROUP TWELVE (AG-12), embarked from the U.S.S. RANDOLPH (CV-15), during the first attack on Japan by Naval carrier-based planes on 17 February 1945.  Acting as Strike Leader for a coordinated attack on a vital aircraft engine plant in the Tokyo area, Commander Crommelin courageously refused to turn back when he discovered, upon reaching the Japanese coast, that his engine was operating at greatly reduced power and he knew extremely adverse weather conditions made necessary a long trip over the Japanese mainland to the target area.  Pressing home the attack in the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire and fighter opposition, he was last to leave the target area, taking damage assessment photographs before delivering his own rocket and strafing attack.  Commander Crommelin, by his outstanding professional skill, inspiring leadership and gallant devotion to duty, contributed materially to the serious damage of an important enemy installation, thus upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)